'Quality and being clinical' helped Preston North End beat Reading says Alex Neil

Goals from Scott Sinclair, Emil Riis - his first in a Preston shirt - and Brad Potts delivered a 3-0 victory over the Championship leaders who had taken a 100% record home record into the contest.

Daniel Johnson missed a penalty at 0-0, the first time he had done that in open play for North End - he missed out in a shoot-out.

That didn't distract North End though, as they won a fourth successive away game.

Neil said: "It seems to be quite common for us on the road, we have been excellent away.

"The only one we didn't win was the 2-2 draw at Norwich and we probably should have won that one.

"I'm delighted first and foremost about the win and perplexed with how poor we have been at home in comparison.

"We will enjoy this one because the last two at home have been tough for us, we didn't do what we set out to do and we needed a good response from the players.

"The one thing we have never lacked is spirit, endeavour and effort, tonight we added a bit of quality and a clinical edge.

"One of the pleasing things was that after missing the penalty away from home against the leaders, we could quite easily have felt sorry for ourselves,

"It galvanised us a little bit and once we got the first goal, that was the key.

"Reading had to come out a bit more and in the transitions and counter-attacks we really damaged them."

Johnson missed from the spot in the 49th minute after a foul on the all-action Riis.

North End recovered well, Sinclair giving them a 65th minute lead, one which Riss doubled. The third goal came from Potts in stoppage-time.

The performance of Riis up front caught Neil's eye, with him pleased the Danish striker is off the mark.

Neil said: "The last three away games Emil has been brilliant hasn't he?

"Absolutely brilliant. He won the penalty, scored the goal and for the third goal he was the lad who put it in behind for Tommy B.

"He is a handful, he can run, he's physical, albeit that is not his biggest strength. He can keep the ball alive for us.

"I'm delighted he is off the mark, strikers always need goals.

"At Huddersfield he smashed the underside of the bar, at QPR he missed a really good chance from six yards but tonight he slotted it away quite comfortably.

"It was the least he deserved for his efforts."

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